The dilemma of cytomegalovirus and hepatitis B virus interaction

Muzammil M Khan; Mukarram J Ali; Hira Hanif; Muhammad H Maqsood; Imama Ahmad; Javier E G Alvarez; Maria-Andreea Catana; Daryl T Y Lau

doi:10.1093/gastro/goac018

The dilemma of cytomegalovirus and hepatitis B virus interaction

Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2022 May 26:10:goac018. doi: 10.1093/gastro/goac018. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Muzammil M Khan¹, Mukarram J Ali¹, Hira Hanif¹, Muhammad H Maqsood¹, Imama Ahmad², Javier E G Alvarez¹, Maria-Andreea Catana¹, Daryl T Y Lau¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Liver Research Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
² Department of Medicine, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA, USA.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a global public health problem despite the availability of effective vaccine and antiviral therapy. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), another hepatotropic virus, is also very prevalent in the general population worldwide. Both HBV and CMV can persist in the host and have potential to reactivate especially with weakened host cellular immunity. Superimposed CMV infection can lead to severe HBV reactivation. The pathogenesis of the co-infection of HBV and CMV remains poorly understood. Studies reported conflicting results regarding the inhibitory effect of CMV on HBV replication. There is an unmet need on the management of co-infection of HBV and CMV; research initiatives dedicated to understanding their interactions are urgently needed.

Keywords: CMV; CMV reactivation; HBV; HBV CMV co-infection; HBV reactivatio; IgG Avidity test; n.

Publication types

Review